An exploration of male youth's perceived impact of their involvement in youth gang violence on their educational attainment in Khayelithsa Site B

The overall aim of the study was to explore male youths' perceived impact of their involvement in youth gang violence (YGV) on their educational attainment. A qualitative research design was adapted in this study. A non-probability purposive snowball sampling was adopted in the research. The study used a semi-structured interview schedule as a research tool in conducting in-depth interviews with the respondents. The research respondents were young males between 14 and 20 years, some of whom were high school drop-outs, while some were learners in high school and some had recently completed Grade 12. The findings showed that most of the research participants were negatively impacted by their involvement in YGV. The findings showed that YGV affected their attendance and performance at school. The study further showed that some of the research participants in the study repeated some grades at school and some dropped out of school because of the influence of YGV. The study also showed that the respondents were keen to further their studies regardless of their involvement in YGV. The respondents recognised the importance of education in their lives in order to fulfil their future goals. The study further indicated that the respondents had no intentions of continuing with YGV, because they wanted to focus on their schooling. They also suggested that young people should not join YGV, because it would destroy their lives, for example by having criminal records, being delayed in their education attainment, and dying very young.

Reference:

Mguzulwa, S. 2014. An exploration of male youth's perceived impact of their involvement in youth gang violence on their educational attainment in Khayelithsa Site B. University of Cape Town.